Freedom for sectarian harassment
By Ned Kelly
South Antrim SF assembly candidate Martin Meehan welcomed
Monday's decision by the Orange Order to postpone a planned band
contest for 24 June in the town of Crumlin.
Meehan said, ``I now hope this gesture will be expanded to include
the parades in the Garvaghy Road area, North Belfast and
Bellaghy.''
Crumlin has been the site of an increasing number of loyalist
parades despite the fact that it is now 80% Catholic. Two years
ago during the same band contest, normally held in September, the
town was wrecked and a youth hospitalised.
During a visit to the town by Martin Meehan and Gerry Adams the
two met with a group of local young people. At the meeting,
described by Meehan as ``highly constructive'', they youths put
forward their concerns about RUC harassment and the lack of
facilities available for young people. They also presented the
Sinn Fein pair with a copy of a petition containing over 200
names expressing their concerns and their opposition to Orange
parades in the area.
The petition had also been passed on to the Parades Commission,
the Dublin government and the NIO. A member of the Crumlin
Concerned Group said that shortly after the petition had been
sent out, several local youths who had signed it were visited by
members of the RUC and told that if they were seen in the town on
the 24th they would be arrested.
The Crumlin resident said, ``it was great to see Mr Adams making
himself aware of the single biggest social issue affecting the
town''. She said the lack of facilities for young people was
leading to the growth of other problems in the area.
After the visit the SF President said, ``the Good Friday document
specifically states that people have the `right to freedom from
sectarian harassment', this matter needs urgent attention. It
means a nationalist village is repeatedly swamped by outsiders.
It means the harassment and intimidation of young nationalists.''
The town is scheduled to host the South Antrim region Orange
parade on 13 July. The resident said, ``surely towns like Aghalee
or Dunmurry would be more suitable alternatives for this regional
parade''.
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